Local Real Estate

Subscribe Now

HUNDREDS of text messages James Ashby and Sunshine Coast MP Peter Slipper sent each other filed in a Federal Court affidavit were meant to show the context of the pair's relationship, Mr Ashby's media advisor said on Sunday.

The documents, filed in court on Friday but not publicly available, were leaked to a Fairfax journalist by one of the several parties to the long-running case at the weekend.

Fairfax Media reported the affidavit showed Mr Ashby had advised Mr Slipper to move to take over the coveted role of Speaker of the House of Representatives before he was employed by Mr Slipper.

Mr Ashby's media advisor and spokesman released a statement on Sunday which said the 200 pages of text messages was meant to provide the court context of the relationship.

"The affidavit contains the details of all the text messages between Mr Ashby and Mr Slipper," the statement reads.

"It was introduced into evidence to show the full context of the communications between the two men. The Fairfax report does not do that."

The statement also said the affidavit was not supplied by Mr Ashby or his associates, emphasising numerous other parties to the case had access to the documents before their likely public release this week.

The case between Mr Ashby and Mr Slipper has not yet been resolved, despite efforts through confidential mediation, but was not yet scheduled for more hearings or mediation this week on Sunday.